There have been so many nights I go home filled with pride. The camaraderie of this community humbles me and affirms what is important in life, and I am so proud to be a part of it.
The other day, I was walking through the Early Childhood buildings and Lower School and was talking to the little ones as I went from building to building. One asked who I was, and then another child said, “He runs the WHOLE school.” I humbly know that I am in a position of authority, and we all have different roles, but the reality is that we ALL run this school together and chart its direction collectively. This involves all of our constituencies: the Board, the administration, faculty and staff, students, parents, and our alumni. And, most importantly, all of the great things that we do with students and families every day could not happen without our shared commitment to our mission and our professionalism. There are mission expectations and guardrails, but my pride swells when I see us acting and leading collectively. I can’t state how fortunate I am to get to work with so many kind, gracious professionals dedicated to being in service to others.
This week we had our Admission Preview, where we give prospective families insight into life on the Colorado Academy campus. We had over 70 parent ambassadors who guided visitors into classrooms and around the grounds. We had students in every division sharing their experiences. A highlight of the day was a Fifth Grader, who, when asked about what they wanted to be when they grew up, answered confidently and unwaveringly, “President,”and I very much believed her!
Our Operations and Custodial crews had the campus looking fantastic. Faculty put up art exhibits, student projects, and hosted engaging classes while welcoming visitors. Our Security team helped make things run smoothly and safely, and our Advancement team welcomed families and tour guides and helped coordinate event logistics. Our Admission team did an amazing, meticulous job organizing the day, and our Communications team put together a concise story and overview of CA that would help anyone new to our community understand what we have to offer and who we are at our core. We had some of our deans and teachers directing traffic. Our various staff members who are behind the scenes kept things rolling like any other day—even though we had hundreds on campus. The principals did a wonderful job representing our program to parents. Our volunteer parent tour guides shared with their groups the transformative learning that happens on our campus. Our students were just fantastic presenting on panels, leading tours, and participating in classroom discussions and clearly are so appreciative of the work we all do. And, I heard from so many prospective parents how impressed they were with our faculty and their impressive knowledge of content and the students with whom they serve.
There is immense pride in being part of a team that lifts each other up. When we come together, bringing our individual strengths and diverse perspectives, we create something greater than the sum of its parts. As we continue to nurture a spirit of teamwork through our actions in our school, we not only prepare our students for future success but also instill in them the values of cooperation, empathy, and shared responsibility. These are qualities that extend far beyond the classroom and into every aspect of life.
As we head into Homecoming Weekend, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who helps make CA a special place, and that is literally every member of our community. We have something very special over here in southwest Denver. I love the fact that I get to work with people who care so deeply about making a positive impact on the lives of their students. I appreciate that we have such a supportive parent and alumni community, and I am grateful for the support so many show. Let’s keep the positive energy up.
Go Mustangs!